I would not say I am new to skiing by any means.  Just ... uninformed and uneducated.  Have been skiing for ... 16 or so years now.

I need help with skiis.  I rented for the lnogest time and two or three years ago I bought my own stuff.  Nothing special, just something to get me down the hill.  My problem is knowing what is good for me and knowing how to "read" skiis to understand whats the best for my ability and helping me get even better.  In the soon future I will be looking to get better skiis and boots.  My boots now are basic all mountain clunkers like you would rent.  Skiis, nothing special Fishers.

When I read about skiis, I am just reading what the maker (Solomon, K2, etc) say about their skiis.  Not "reading" the specs and understanding what I should get.  I like to skii off the groom and love the moguls.  I love to go fast and make heard slolem turns.  If I had to pick, I would say that I would like a ski to take me to the next level.  IE:  Freestyle or a great All-Mountain ski I woud assume. 

I understand, wide skiis are great for powder.  Some say they are moire forgiving... How is that possible?  Some say they are for beginner/novice/expert.  How can they tell me what type of skiier they are for when really, I make them into what they become?

So...

How do I read skiis and how do I know how to get the RIGHT ski and boot for me, other than "this is a downhill ski, this is a powder ski, this is all-mountain, this is beginner, this is expert" and so forth that really tells me nothing on how it is going to ride or If it will suit me well.

Again, I like to ride fast, and my cheap Fishers do that.  I like the moguls, they do that (as far as I can tell being moguls are probobly my weak point), and they can take the powder with some sinking in.  None-the-less, they get me to the bottom.

To become better, and enhance my ability, how do I get the right boot / ski.  The most expensive cost is not what I am looking for, obviously they would be the best as the maker (Solomon, K2, etc) knows their stuff and prices them to suit.

My information.

5'11", 200 pounds, I would call myself advanced or expert depending on the judge, Skiing for 16 years, know how to use my edge, have good form (not so much in my weak spot, the moguls), and ski fast, have fun, hit jumps, and get down without a problem.

Any assistance would be apprectiated.  Thanks in advance!!!